Dear Friends and Family!!

Me again!,

For some of you who don't know my story, sit back and relax whilst I tell you.

12 years ago at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a disease with no cure & a disease that would change the path of my life.

At that time I had become Head of Dance and Drama at a school in London having successfully run my own performing arts business & worked for the Royal Academy of Dance, even gaining a master's.

On paper I was fit and healthy & nothing was stopping me performing.. until I started to bleed, loose a lot of weight and couldn't eat food ( everyone assuming I had an eating disorder due to being a ballet dancer ). After being fobbed off many months with IBS, it took a camera to investigate the real cause.. and ultimately find a disease I knew little about.

Talking about pooh and bowels isn't fun, especially at 25, going out in the world and trying to meet boyfriends etc. Luckily for me, I met my now husband who looked past the multiple loo trips, the hair loss ( pretty sure he thinks he's married a bloke!) And the endless trips to buy loo roll from Costco... He is my rock and lifts me up and keeps me going.

Sadly, along with Crohn's, the medication has caused all sorts of nasty effects, the hair loss, arthritis, osteoporosis to name but a few. I currently name myself the human maraca due to taking 15 tablets in the morning just to function. I won't let it hold me back and try desperately to keep working with children as long as I can and have fun ( albeit not in a teaching role ).

Nearly three years ago, I suffered a mini stroke, and as such this is causing lasting effects along with Crohn's flare ups. The relentless shielding in the Covid pandemic did however give my body a chance to rest. Maybe one positive to come out of it all, was a chance to be with my four year old daughter, who I was told may not be possible to have. 

There are many down days, but so many great days and these we must hang on to.

Now finally being allowed out in the world, I want to continue my yearly 10k walk for Crohn's and Colitis UK and raise awareness of this disease and all its ups and downs.

If you would like to donate and sponsor me, that would be great, but if not, please share the story and awareness and any changes to your tummy... please see a GP!!.

Just because a disability isn't visible, doesn't mean someone isn't struggling.

I would love to have a wonderful meal with my husband again at some point and not be in any pain, this is my goal for this year.

Thank you to Mum and Dad for your love and support throughout, as well as my family and friends.

Love and best wishes,

Laura xxx

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.